Not Quite a Familiar Face

Posted on Fri 8th Jun, 2018 @ 12:47am by Eddie Hunt

767 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Brushfires
Location: Orchids & Jazz, Deck 600
Timeline: MD 12, 1630

Working behind the beautiful antique wooden bar in every generation of Orchids & Jazz was one of Jade's favorite tasks. There was something soothing about being there, in familiar territory no matter where the jazz club was set up. She liked meeting customers and chatting over it's wide, polished expanse, and running her hand along a still-natural part of the underside which hadn't been protected against stains. She enjoyed the music, of course, and the low buzz of conversation that told her people were enjoying her restaurant and Marin's creations from the kitchen.

It was the slow time of day when a man in civilian dress walked toward her and took a seat at the bar. There was something vaguely familiar about him, but Lantz absolutely knew she'd never met him. His aura was subdued, almost as if he were consciously cloaking it. A bit of blue peeked out around the edge of his body, and that was all. Blue was good.

"Hello," Jade greeted him with a smile. "What can I get you this afternoon?"

Eddie smiled at the woman whom he was familiar with by name. His brother had spoken a lot about Jade Lantz and Orchids & Jazz, so it only seemed fitting to pay the place a visit. "Can I get an orange juice please? And some kind of apple pie if you have it?" He looked around quizzically looking for a menu. "Dessert is my favorite part of a meal, hell, sometimes it's just my dinner." He let out a small chuckle and glanced back at Jade.

"Orange juice? I know someone else who likes orange juice ... well, who doesn't like it, really? We definitely have apple pie, and I guarantee it will be the best you ever had. Now, do you want that with a crust top or a crumb topping? Ice cream or warm cream?" As she clarified his order, she poured him a large glass of sweet, fresh squeezed OJ. She pushed the glass across to him, putting the pitcher back in the below-bar refrigerated case.

"My brother used to love the stuff. I'm just as fond of it, but I do deviate from it on occasions. And a crumb topping with ice cream please," He smiled back at the woman as he took the glass and had a sip.

"That's from the first of the starbase trees growing in Tivoli Gardens," Lantz said, after sending his order back to the kitchen. "I'm Jade Lantz, by the way. This is my jazz club, and you can get the best food anywhere out of Marin's kitchen, right over there." She nodded toward a door to their right.

The Cymbidiums, the restaurant's own 3-piece combo of base musicians came back from their break and swung into a traditional rendition of On Green Dolphin Street. "Of course, if you don't like jazz, you won't like it here!"

"I know of you, Miss Lantz, and Orchids & Jazz. It's nice to finally put a name to a face, in both yourself and this place. I've heard all about it!" Eddie took another sip of juice. "My name is Eddie, and I love jazz!"

Jade laughed at his enthusiasm. "Well, hello again, Eddie-who-likes-jazz. You've come to the right place, as I'm rather fond of it myself. May I ask where you heard about either me or the club? We're popular around here, but I didn't think our fame had spread that far, and I think you're new on Starbase 109, aren't you?" He that look about him, a little wide-eyed and taking everything in as a new experience.

She leaned on her elbows on the bar across from him. It wasn't quite busy time yet, and she was interested in this vaguely familiar man. His features were older .... Jade's eyes widened as she put everything together. "Are you related to Commander Hunt, by any chance?" she asked.

"I'm new on the starbase, you are correct about that, and nice deducing, because I'm his brother. I am, was, the elder of the two. Father always said we looked similar." He smiled at her, as he could see the surprise in her face.

"What do you mean, you were the elder of the two? Has something happened to him?" Lantz asked. "I do hope not, because he was always so kind and funny. I quite like him."

"Oh," he paused. "I assumed news would have arrived about it. He was involved in an accident and, unfortunately, didn't make it." Sadness welled within him before he shook it off. "I'm sorry you didn't know sooner."

 

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